Fire engulfs former Smorgy's restaurant in Bundoora

A RESTAURANT building in Melbourne's north has been destroyed by fire this afternoon.

Fire rips through the former Smorgy's in Bundoora.

POLICE are investigating after a vacant restaurant was destroyed by fire in Melbourne's north this afternoon causing $500,000 worth of damage.

Firefighters deemed the building a fire hazard after it was badly vandalised after a joint inspection with Darebin Council last month.

Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze which raged for hours at the old Smorgy's building on Plenty Rd in Bundoora.

The fire was being treated as suspicious, and firefighters said they struggled to access enough water to extinguish the flames.

It has been a target for illegal rubbish dumping, prompting the council to use CCTV to monitor the site for a month this year.

Last month, Darebin Mayor Tim Laurence said the building was easily accessible and that he feared someone would enter and start a fire.

MFB commander Costa Katsikis said thick clouds of smoke could be seen for blocks.

"Large plumes of black smoke were billowing out of the structure and visible flames were licking out from the windows and the openings," Mr Katsikis said.

Mr Katsikis said crews were confronted by limited water supplies in the area.

"There were 14 fire appliances and 50 fire fighters using the same water supply, which was a challenge," he said. The unoccupied 30m x 40m brick building caught alight at about 2.20pm. The fire was so severe, a pillar of smoke could be clearly seen from news helicopter filming the football at the MCG.

Residents were warned to close their windows and to turn off their air-conditioning as a health precaution due to ash and smoke.

Mr Katsikis said the fire damaged about 80 per cent of the brick building and caused at least $500,000 worth of damage.

Fire authorities feared the building was at risk of collapsing and were forced to put out the fire from outside without entering the building.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman Ray Rowe said there were no reports of injuries, but ambulance members were standing by on site.

Reservoir police said a road block was in place for a portion of Plenty Rd yesterday.

Police are conducting a full investigation into how the fire started and police guards were on site overnight.

The council issued 16 notices and infringements for dumping and litter on the site.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade Northern District Acting Assistant Chief Guy McCrorie told the owner to clean up the site last month.

"We see it as a potential fire hazard, there has been small fires around the premises since it's been unoccupied," he said.

Mr McGrorie said he wanted the building boarded up or demolished.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal was allegedly in the process of making an application for a major residential development at the site.

The site's owner is allegedly Park Rise Australia.

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